Fencing
Williamsville trio wins ratings

Williamsville's Kevin McMahon, second from left, earned his D rating through the United States Fencing Association for winning the unrated foil event in Friday's Hooves of Thunder Tournament at the Fencing Center of Buffalo. Pictured with him are bronze medalist Victoria Licata, left, silver medalist Anne Doebler and bronze medalist Chuck Farnsworth.

It was a good couple of days to live in Williamsville this past weekend, as three Williamsville residents earned ratings through the United States Fencing Association.

Kevin McMahon earned his D rating in foil for winning the unrated foil event Friday night in the third annual Hooves of Thunder Tournament. Scott Seier earned his E rating in saber for winning the open saber tournament Saturday, while Sam Goddard earned his E rating in epee for winning the open epee event.

The tournament was hosted by the Fencing Center of Buffalo, 777 Maryvale Drive, Cheektowaga and featured 32 fencers from all over Western New York.

McMahon won three of his four pool bouts to earn the third seed in the unrated foil event and breezed through the direct eliminations. He ousted Buffalo's Chuck Farnsworth in the semis, 15-2, and Buffalo's Anne Doebler in the finals, 15-6. Farnsworth, Doebler and Getzville's Victoria Licata earned their E ratings in foil for placing in the top four.

McMahon is the owner and operator of the Fencing Center of Buffalo.

Seier won five of his six pool bouts to take the first seed in the open saber event. After a bye in the quarterfinals, he edged out East Amherst's Larry Finklestein, 15-14 in the semis and Buffalo's Scott Dewey, 15-11, in the finals.

Seier won a bronze medal in the open saber event at last year's Hooves of Thunder Tournament.

Goddard won three of his four pool bouts to earn the third seed in the open epee event. He eliminated Seier, 15-7, in the semifinals and Ron Zysk of Niagara Falls, 15-4, in the finals.

Goddard just completed his sophomore year at the University of Toronto. He previously won the 2005 Hooves of Thunder epee event and placed second in the 2005 open foil event.

Licata, won a bronze medal in the open foil event Saturday, losing to eventual champion Matt Krueger of Cheektowaga in the semifinals, 15-9.